Thoroughbred Horses

Current Racing & Breeding Activities - Updated: 10/03/09


Northern Meteor returned to racing on Saturday with a slashing 4th in the Group 1 Newmarket Hcp at Flemington.  He was a little slow to begin and took a while to muster speed  but traveled beautifully throughout the run and then charged home late indicating he was looking for further distance.  It was a terrific training performance by Gai Waterhouse as this was a first up run and with 23 runners it was always going to be a difficult task.  The pleasing thing about the run was the last 200m where he really attacked the line showing he will be very competitive at a longer distance.   Northern Meteor's next run will be the Group 2 Canterbury Stakes at Rosehill on March 21st over 1300m.

Gold Water was a brave 2nd in the AV Kewney Stakes at Flemington on Saturday to Group 1 winner Gallica.  Taking up her customery roll as pacemaker she traveled along beautifully and controlled the pace and then kicked in the straight in the final 100m Gallica loomed up to challenge but Gold Water was not going to lay down and hand up the race easily and fought back strongly to eventually go down buy just over a head.  She has been a most consistant filly and has claimed the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes in Melbourne and now returns to Sydney to run in the Group 1 Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill over  2000m.

Encosta de Lago 2 year old colt Rhythm of Dance has his first start at Newcastle on Saturday an debuted with a fine win over 1200m.  Ridden by Mark Newnham he settled mid field during the run and was peeled to the outside down the straight where he stormed home for a most decisive win.  While still a little green with plenty of up side about him Rhythm of Dance has his share of ability and may be given his chance to run in the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill in a couple of weeks.

3 year old Colt Fight and Defend again disappointed in the Canberra Guineas on Sunday over 1400m.  Fight and Defend was ridden agressively by Blake Shinn to take the lead but folded quickly in the straight to finish 2nd last.  This is not the horses true form as his trials earlier had been a lot more encouraging and we now intend to step him up to a suitable distance over 2000m in the next couple of weeks and hopefully the real Fight and Defend will come to the fore.

On Monday the 9th March Gooree had winning double at Warwick Farm with promising 3 year old filly Above Perfection winning over 1400m.  Aided by a great ride by Blake Shinn whe was speared out from a wide gate, took up the running and was never headed expoding away on the corner to win by 3 lengths.  This daughter of Encosta de Lago is out of our duel stakes winning Mare Actress and is her first foal to race, she has a very promising future and will be aimed at the Keith Nolan Stakes a 1600m race for 3 year old fillys at Kembla Grange in the next 10 days.

Consistant gelding Joku returned from a spell in slashing style at Warwick Farm on Monday to win first up over 1400m.  Daniel Ganderton took him to the lead where the horse was then tetherd by another runner but he traveled sweetly in the run and then took off coming round the corner.  He fought off four challengers in the straight and lasted to win by a long head.   Joku has an imposing record now winning 5 from 8 starts.  Daniel feels the horse has improved some 5 lengths from last preparation and he certainly is physically a lot stronger. 

2 year old Fastnet Rock colt New Day Rising has his debut start at Canterbury on Wednesday.  This stylish colt has been working very strongly on the track and Gai Waterhouse is very keen on his chances on Wednesday.  He is a half brother to Tzu Hsi and Swift Alliance both out of the Silver Deputy Mare Visual Emotion who was a very fast filly and is proving herself a very good broodmare.